Start with the Self: Modelling Constructive Self-Statements and Growing with Others

I explore in this paper the importance of starting with the self to model constructive self-statements and create both individual and collective healing. My intended audience within this paper is student affairs professionals of color who exist in predominantly white institutions (PWIs) of higher education. I ground this paper in my lived experiences as a queer and 1st generation student affairs graduate student of color at a PWI. Within my writing, I detail practices that help me manifest constructive self-statements, to share with other student affairs professionals of color to practice healing self-statements for themselves. Lastly, I conclude with the ways practicing constructive self-statements implicates social justice as student affairs professionals

Effects of cycling on lithium-ion battery hysteresis and overvoltage

Currently, lithium-ion batteries are widely used as energy storage systems for mobile applications. However, a better understanding of their nature is still required to improve battery management systems (BMS). Overvoltages and open-circuit voltage (OCV) hysteresis provide valuable information regarding battery performance, but estimations of these parameters are generally inaccurate, leading to errors in BMS. Studies on hysteresis are commonly avoided because the hysteresis depends on the state of charge and degradation level and requires time-consuming measurements. We have investigated hysteresis and overvoltages in Li(NiMnCo)O2/graphite and LiFePO4/graphite commercial cells. Here we report a direct relationship between an increase in OCV hysteresis and an increase in charge overvoltage when the cells are degraded by cycling. We fnd that the hysteresis is related to difusion and increases with the formation of pure phases, being primarily related to the graphite electrode. These fndings indicate that the graphite electrode is a determining factor for cell efciency.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Crystal cleaving machine

A machine is disclosed for cleaving hard crystals. A typical example of which is lithium fluoride, with prcision and uniformity and includes vertical axis positioning control means for an adjustable spring tension guided hammer mechanism employed to strike an anvil. A crystal cleaving shock wave transmitted to a cleaving blade is generated having an angulated cleaving edge in contact with one corner of the crystal. Connection between the anvil and the blade is by means of a pair of vertical shafts held in substantially friction free engagement by two pairs of adjustable linear bearings. An underlying crystal holding fixture with horizontal position control means includes a zero reference stop face for the crystal and opposing spring-loaded clamping and vertical positioning elements which are precisely guided

Endoscopic imaging of quantum gases through a fiber bundle

We use a coherent fiber bundle to demonstrate the endoscopic absorption imaging of quantum gases. We show that the fiber bundle introduces spurious noise in the picture mainly due to the strong core-to-core coupling. By direct comparison with free-space pictures, we observe that there is a maximum column density that can be reliably measured using our fiber bundle, and we derive a simple criterion to estimate it. We demonstrate that taking care of not exceeding such maximum, we can retrieve exact quantitative information about the atomic system, making this technique appealing for systems requiring isolation form the environment

Entropy characterisation of overstressed capacitors for lifetime prediction

We propose a method to monitor the ageing and damage of capacitors based on their irreversible entropy generation rate. We overstressed several electrolytic capacitors in the range of 33 µF–100 µF and monitored their entropy generation rate View the MathML source(t ). We found a strong relationship between capacitor degradation and View the MathML source(t ). Therefore, we proposed a threshold for View the MathML source(t ) as an indicator of capacitor time-to-failure. This magnitude is related to both capacitor parameters and to a damage indicator such as entropy. Our method goes beyond the typical statistical laws for lifetime prediction provided by manufacturers. We validated the model as a function of capacitance, geometry, and rated voltage. Moreover, we identified different failure modes, such as heating, electrolyte dry-up and gasification from the dependence of View the MathML source(T) with temperature, T. Our method was implemented in cheap electrolytic capacitors but can be easily applied to any type of capacitor, supercapacitor, battery, or fuel cell.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Discurso preparado por el Santo Padre Benedicto XVI para el encuentro con la Universidad de Roma “La Sapienza”

Texto de la conferencia que el Papa Benedicto XVI iba a pronunciar durante su visita a la “Sapienza, Universidad de Roma”, el jueves 17 de enero. Visita cancelada el 15 de enero.Text of the conference that Pope Benedict XVI was to deliver during his visit to the "Sapienza, University of Rome" on Thursday January 17. Visit canceled on January 15

Large negative lateral shifts due to negative refraction

When a thin structure in which negative refraction occurs (a metallo-dielectric or a photonic crystal) is illuminated by a beam, the reflected and transmitted beam can undergo a large negative lateral shift. This phenomenon can be seen as an interferential enhancement of the geometrical shift and can be considered as a signature of negative refraction